Welcome to chapter 2! Again just a small disclaimer I don't own any characters, apps or anything like that.
In this story, just to make it clear - the characters still have their magic powers but Mary Margaret and David, although will still be together, are not Emma's parents at this point.
Chapter 2
"Soo…." Ruby smirked as Emma slid into the booth at The Rabbit Hole, 'only 20 minutes late and you look very happy with yourself.'
"I don't know what you're talking about." Emma replied innocently, trying to catch the eye of the server behind the bar.
"Hey, can I get a beer please?" she called, finally making eye contact. The lady smiled warmly and nodded as Emma shrugged off her red leather jacket.
"Oh please, you have cancelled on drinks three times this week to spend time with Regina. You're seriously telling me nothing is going on?" Ruby knew something was definitely happening between the two women, most of Storybrooke did, yet Emma seemed to be completely oblivious.
The brunette leaned towards Emma, her eyes were unwavering in their stare. Her aim was to break Emma's resolve and judging by the blonde's squirming, it was working.
"Dammit, I hate it when you do that." The blonde hung her head and smiled, before downing half of the beer that had been on the table for all of two seconds.
"I'd like to know every detail, and to be honest I'm offended it's taken me to drag you to a bar for you to tell me anything!" Ruby pouted playfully.
"I make your lunch pretty much every day at the diner and you haven't let on once!"
She leaned over and lightly slapped the blonde's bicep, her eyes widened at the firmness, "and you're working out more, those biceps didn't used to be that solid. You're definitely banging her."
Emma shook her head and smiled, taking another sip of beer as she thought how thankful she was she made a friend like Ruby in this crazy little town. The blonde knew she hadn't been a great friend to her recently, but the reason she came here in the first place was to have a good relationship with her son, and if that meant spending the majority of her time at the mayor's mansion instead of socialising, it was a price she'd happily pay.
"Okay first of all, we haven't 'banged' as you so eloquently put it, and secondly, there isn't anything to tell… mostly." Emma shrugged her shoulders, her green eyes however avoiding the scarlet ones of the woman opposite her.
"Mostly… that's the part I'm interested in. Spill." Ruby leant forward again, her left elbow coming to rest on the table, allowing her hand to support her head, "I'm all ears Swan".
The blonde laughed nervously, how would she even begin to explain her relationship with Regina? Was there even anything to explain?
"We've just been getting closer that's all, it's been… nice."
A small smile crept up on Emma's lips at the thought of her recent interactions with Regina. It really was nice getting to know the brunette. It was nice being in her house, nice being close to her, nice being able to be close enough to inhale that sensual perfume she wears, nice to receive the subtle touches that had being growing more common for the two women. Nice? It was absolute heaven.
"Woah now, where did I lose you to for a second there? Emma seriously, you are like a lovesick puppy. Does she even feel the same way?"
Ruby looked curious at the emotion that had overcome her best friend, she knew the ex-Evil Queen was hot, but she was always too, well, bitchy to ever give off any good vibes to anyone in town. Although, thinking about it, the Mayor had softened over the time Emma had been in Storybrooke. Ruby thought of how Regina would now say good morning to people when she collected her breakfast at the diner; hell, she would make small talk and even smile, something that the mayor never did before Emma arrived.
"I guess, I was just thinking about how our relationship has changed over the two years. She's not the stuck up, albeit gorgeous, woman I first met Rubes. She's… softened. She talks to me, she laughs, my god that laugh, it makes me happy just to be around her."
Ruby looked shocked at the confession but had to admit she'd never seen Emma so happy.
"Well, let's drink to that Swan. Here's to your happy ending! Lorna, 4 tequilas and keep 'em coming! We're celebrating over here!" Ruby clinked her glass to Emma's and stood to collect their shots from the bar.
Emma sighed happily, who knew a catch up with an old friend would turn into her confessing her feelings for Regina? Speaking of whom, she opened her phone as Ruby disappeared, disappointed with the lack of messages from a certain Mayor.
"I did say I'd message her first…" Emma whispered to herself, loading the familiar yellow app, Emma took a little video of Ruby at the bar with the caption 'She's a bad influence'. Then, she had another idea. Focusing the camera again, the blonde selected the filter which gave her rounded glasses and freckles, a coy smile on her lips. Pressing send to Regina, all she could do was wait…
Regina sighed deeply as she closed the heavy front door behind the beautiful blonde.
"Another night alone." She said out loud, looking around to her now deserted home. She walked back into the living room, taking in the sight in front of her, the remains of a thoroughly enjoyable gaming afternoon.
A small smile played upon Regina's lips as she thought of how happy Henry was having both of his mother's in his life now. She hated to admit it, but she longed for the day that Emma didn't have to leave at all. Her house finally felt like a home, it felt lived in. With a swift click of her fingers, purple smoke filled the room, signalling all the computer games to get back on their shelves in alphabetical order and any empty food wrappers to go straight into the bin. The tall brunette walked towards the kitchen, feeling satisfied the smell of fast food was completely gone from her front room.
The mayor's stomach grumbled as she checked the time, maybe some food would distract her from the sinking feeling that appeared every time Emma left. As she opened the fridge, she decided that lasagne for one was a pointless endeavour with Henry out for the evening. So instead, she settled for a very healthy chicken salad. Regina raised her right hand to turn off the kitchen light on her way to the sofa, she decided it was time to treat herself to eating while sat on a more comfortable surface instead of at the dining table as she normally would.
I definitely won't be telling this to Henry, I'll never get him back at the table.
Regina reached for the remote control and chose one of her favourite films to distract herself from thinking about the blonde and how much fun she was having, without her. She then poured herself a glass of red wine and snuggled further under her grey, fluffy blanket. A couple of hours later, she checked that her last text to Henry had definitely sent as there was still no sign of a reply.
'Teenagers' she thought to herself, making a mental note to talk to her son when he got back.
As she was finally dozing off, a new notification popped up on her phone, Regina expected it to be from Henry eventually replying, but was pleasantly surprised to see it was from her favourite sheriff.
'New snap from Swan89'
"She can't be back home yet, surely?" Regina pondered out loud.
She turned her head slightly to look at the large clock on her living room wall, which read it was only 10:15pm. The brunette opened the snap eagerly. The video revealed Emma wasn't at home yet, but she had definitely consumed some alcohol, and by the looks of it Ruby wasn't slowing down any time soon. Regina's heart warmed however, as she read the caption attached to the very cute second image,
'Wish you were here xx'
Regina quickly swiped right to reply, this time she chose some blue fluffy bear ears and decided on a fake pout to hint at the sheriff she wished she was there with her too.
'Me too, but enjoy your night dear, I'm sure Ruby has missed you… I know I do'
"Oh crap." Regina chastised herself, she couldn't believe she'd sent something like that, Emma was just being nice!
*ping* Another cute photo of Emma, this time her chiselled biceps clearly on show.
Dinner tomorrow? That way you won't have to miss me too much
*ping* Regina sent a posed shot back, hoping the slight bit of cleavage on display would make the blonde want more.
It's a date… now go back to enjoying your night Miss Swan Remember to let me know you are home safe.
"Hey Blondie if I send you a snap, can I get some of your attention?"
"huh-wha?" A voice had broken through Emma and Regina's bubble, bringing her focus back to the bar.
"She's definitely just sent you her boobs." Ruby laughed, trying to snatch her phone out of the blonde's hand.
"What? No! No, not her actual boobs, just… I invited her to dinner and she said yes." Emma hesitantly replied, tucking her phone away safely into her jeans.
"And through the power of social media, who said romance was dead?" Ruby winked, "Ever the charmer Miss Swan".
"Rubes promise me you won't say anything? Regina would kill me if she thought I was gossiping our business around town." Emma leant over the table to hold Ruby's hand, their eyes connecting as she pleaded with her best friend.
"Our business, listen to you. You seem like a couple already! But yes, of course I promise Emma. Take your time."
The next few hours flew by with the two friends catching up, discussing every detail in their lives they might have missed over the past few weeks. Although she hated to admit it, she was missing Regina's company. However, Emma couldn't deny that she needed this time with Ruby, it felt so good to just laugh and relax in a rarely explored part of the town. The blonde also couldn't believe just how much she felt like Storybrooke really was 'home'.
Before long, the bell signalling last orders were called at the bar and unwillingly, the two females left their booth to face the mild autumn air. Bidding their farewells, Emma turned left to walk back to Mary Margaret's, while Ruby turned the opposite way to go back to Granny's.
Trying to be as quiet as possible, Emma slipped her key into the lock and turned it with care, so as not to wake up her sleeping roommate. Quietly making her way across the apartment, Emma was pleased with herself for not making any noise. She knew Mary Margaret wouldn't be amused if she was woken up, again, by the smoke alarm from Emma's attempt to make a drunken grilled cheese. The blonde stripped down to only her underwear before climbing into bed; before realising she really didn't need a hangover plus the pain from having slept in her bra as well, the garment quickly joined her other disregarded clothes on the floor.
"Ah crap, how could I forget?" Emma pulled her phone back out of her jeans pocket, remembering her promise to a certain beautiful brunette.
Angling the camera just right, Emma pressed send on her promised message.
*ping*
Just as Regina was finally dozing off, a vibration on the coffee table made her eyes spring open. Reaching out from under her blanket, Regina was very happy to see a familiar notification.
New Snap from Swan89
Breathing in deeply, Regina braced herself for whatever a drunken Miss Swan would send her. Her heart was pounding in anticipation. As the photo was revealed, Regina studied every aspect, her breath hitching slightly as it showed Emma Swan in her bed, wrapped in a very thick white duvet.
"Home safe and sound, goodnight Miss Mills".
Not wanting the photo to disappear, Regina's eyes continued to study the picture. She looked adorable with her light blonde hair framing her face, the pillows beneath her looking very cosy indeed, Emma's shoulders visibly peaking out from the duvet. The absence of any material caught Regina's attention, was she wearing anything underneath?
Wait… was she wearing anything at all?
No, she had to stop, this was Emma. Her son's other mother, she really couldn't think about her this… could she? As the moral dilemma was battling in her head, another snap popped up. This time Emma was pouting, the duvet slightly further down from last time, confirming to Regina that Emma indeed wasn't wearing anything, at least on her top half. Tearing her eyes away from the hint of cleavage, the brunette finally read the caption beneath.
"Ya know, it's rude to watch a snap and not say good night back. GOODNIGHT REGINA."
Laughing at Emma's immaturity, Regina finally loaded her camera to reply. She opted for a filter to hide the slightly smudged make up after a long day, Regina (now with rainbow bear ears) captured herself snuggled on the sofa and typed her reply.
"I am glad you're home safely Miss Swan, you look very cosy"
Only a few seconds had passed before another photo appeared, this time Emma was lying on her front, luckily for Regina slightly more cleavage could be seen from this angle.
"Why aren't you in bed? Don't tell me you're sleeping on the sofa?"
Feeling suddenly more confident, Regina took a picture of her pretending to be asleep,
"Too tired to move, sofa is my bed now."
*ping*
"You're worse than Henry."
"I am not Miss Swan!" Regina's lips formed an 'o' in shock at the blonde's statement, but couldn't help laugh when the movement triggered a mask to move on the filter.
*ping*
"Why are you still awake anyway?"
Emma was now back under the duvet, much to Regina's disappointment.
Letting out a sigh, the brunette decided she'd used enough filters, her natural smile at the thought of Emma sending her a goodnight message would be the best option.
"I didn't want to miss your snap."
*ping*
Swan89 has screenshotted you!
"Emma Swan what did you do?"
*ping*
"That picture was too cute not to keep, tomorrow I will teach you the art of screenshotting. But for now, poof yourself to bed and get some sleep! Sweet dreams Regina xx